Screening Methods for Waterlogging Tolerance at Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedling Stage

Waterlogging strongly affects agronomic performance of maize （Zea mays L.）. In order to investigate the suitable selection criteria of waterflooding tolerant genotypes, and identify the most susceptible stage and the best continuous treatment time to waterlogging, 20 common maize inbred lines were subjected to successive artificial waterflooding at seedling stage, and waterlogging tolerance coefficient （WTC） was used to screen waterflooding tolerant genotypes. In addition, peroxidase （POD） activities and malondialdehyde （MDA） contents were measured for 6 of 20 lines. The results showed that the second leaf stage （V2） was the most susceptible stage, and 6 d after waterflooding was the best continuous treatment time. Dry weight （DW） of both shoots and roots of all lines were significantly reduced at 6 d time-point of waterlogging, compared to control. POD activities and MDA contents were negatively and significantly correlated, and the correlation coefficient was -0.9686 （P 〈 0.0001）. According to the results, WTC of shoot DW can be used for practical screening as a suitable index, which is significantly different from control and waterlogged plants happened 6 d earlier. Furthermore, leaf chlorosis, MDA content and POD activities could also be used as reference index for material screening. The implications of the results for waterlogging-tolerant material screening and waterlogging-tolerant breeding have been discussed in maize.

Isolating cDNA clones from rice induced by Magnaporthe grisea using PCR based differential screening method

The differential hybridization technique hasbeen widely used to identify genes that are dif-ferentially expressed.However,this approachhas several drawbacks.First,the screeningprocedures are rather labor-intensive and time-consuming.Second,the amount of phageDNAs transferred onto the two filters may notbe equivalent,which leads to an inaccurate se-lection of a positive clone.Third,isolation ofphage DNA is slow and cumbersome.Here,aPCR based differential screening method that

Study on a noninvasive method for rapid screening Human Serum albumin injectables by Raman spectroscopy

Human serum albumin(HSA)injectable product is a severely afflicted area on drug safety due to its high price and restricted supply.Raman spectroscopy performances high specificity on HSA detection and it is even possible to determine HSA injectable products noninvasively.In this study,we developed a noninvasive rapid screening method for of HSA injectable products by using portable Raman spectrometer.Qualitative models were established by using principal component analysis combined with classical least squares(PCA-CLS)algorithm,while quanti-tative model was established by using partial least squares(PLS)algorithm.Model transfer in different instruments of both the same and different apparatus modules was further discussed in this paper.A total of 34 HSA injectable samples collected from markets were used for verification.The identification results showed 100%accuracy and the predicted concentrations of those identified as true HSA were consistent with their labeled concentrations.The quantitative results also indicated that model transfer was excellent in the same apparatus modules of Raman spectrometer at all concentration levels,and still good enough in the different apparatus modules although the relative standard deviation(RSD)value showed a little increasing trend at low HSA concentration level.In conclusion,the method was proved to be feasible and efficient for screening HSA injections,especially on its screening speed and the consideration of glass containers.Moreover,with inspiring results on the model transfer,the method could be used as a universal screening mean to different Raman instruments.

Electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)as a Method for Screening Species of Passiflora Using Seed Proteins as Molecular Markers

Brazil is the center of diversity and dispersion of species of the genus Passiflora.Two species of passion fruit Passiflora tenuifila BRS VT(passiflora garlic)and another of Passiflora setacea BRS PC were used in this study.The plants were grown on the Embrapa Cerrados experimental farm.The fruits were washed,minimally cut and their constituents separated.Both species differed in the proportion of wet mass between husk,seed,and pulp.As expected,both species had a higher proportion of husks and seeds and a lower amount of pulp.A semi-purification procedure for the proteins present in the seeds and husks was described and the molecular aspects were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE).The quantification of soluble proteins was performed using the Bradford method.The analysis of the soluble protein extracted from the seeds and husks showed that these values are up to 70 times higher for the seeds of P.tenuifila and 28.5 times for P.setacea,in the husks.It was verified that both species present a similar protein profile,observed by the intense and diverse bands found in the polyacrylamide gel,mainly in the range of 32 to 19 kDa.This work opens up an unexplored field of tracking bioactive proteins and/or peptides including forms of nanostructure systems that protect other bioactive molecules.The objective of this work was to present an analytical procedure to semi-purify seed proteins of two Passiflora species and use electrophoresis as an analysis tool for further screening of their protein profiles and selection of a molecular marker to differentiate them.

A New Method for Screening Immune Drugs by Linear Sweep Polarography

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Ecological impact assessment method of highways in Tibetan Plateau:A Case study of Gonghe-Yushu Expressway

In recent years,the ecological environment along highways in Tibetan Plateau has been severely affected due to the rapid construction of highways.In order to solve the problems of multiple indicators and inconsistent criteria in the ecological impact assessment of highways,and to scientifically screen assessment indicators,the paper proposes a multi-round indicator screening method,which combines literature analysis,expert rating,and statistical analysis.Based on this screening method,normalized difference vegetation index,land surface temperature,elevation,and normalized difference soil index are screened out.Combined with multiple linear regression,an ecological impact assessment model is established and applied to ecological impact assessment of Gonghe-Yushu Expressway.The results show that the expressway construction is the first driving force for the deterioration of the ecological environment along the roadside,and its interference range on the desert grassland ecosystem is greater than that on the agroforestry system.The ecological environment within 150 m on both sides of the expressway should be protected.

Rapid Screening of 82 Pesticide Residues in Feed by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

[Objectives]This study was conducted to establish a qualitative method for rapid detection of pesticide residues in feed.[Methods]A rapid screening method for 82 pesticide residues in feed was established using ultra liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)combined with optimized pretreatment methods.[Results]Feed samples were extracted with 0.2%formic acid-acetonitrile solution,shaken,centrifuged,and re-centrifuged,and the supernatant was filtered with a 0.22μm filter membrane for determination.The samples were separated on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 chromatographic column(2.1 mm×50 mm,1.8μm),and subjected to gradient elution with methanol-water solution as the mobile phase,and scanning was performed in ESI+mode.82 compounds could be accurately qualitatively detected in 13 min.[Conclusions]This method is simple to operate,time-saving,and can be applied to rapid screening of large-scale feed.This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of new methods in the future.

A Local Sparse Screening Identification Algorithm with Applications

Extracting nonlinear governing equations from noisy data is a central challenge in the analysis of complicated nonlinear behaviors.Despite researchers follow the sparse identification nonlinear dynamics algorithm(SINDy)rule to restore nonlinear equations,there also exist obstacles.One is the excessive dependence on empirical parameters,which increases the difficulty of data pre-processing.Another one is the coexistence of multiple coefficient vectors,which causes the optimal solution to be drowned in multiple solutions.The third one is the composition of basic function,which is exclusively applicable to specific equations.In this article,a local sparse screening identification algorithm(LSSI)is proposed to identify nonlinear systems.First,we present the k-neighbor parameter to replace all empirical parameters in data filtering.Second,we combine the mean error screening method with the SINDy algorithm to select the optimal one from multiple solutions.Third,the time variable t is introduced to expand the scope of the SINDy algorithm.Finally,the LSSI algorithm is applied to recover a classic ODE and a bi-stable energy harvester system.The results show that the new algorithm improves the ability of noise immunity and optimal parameters identification provides a desired foundation for nonlinear analyses.

Influence of vibration mode on the screening process

The screening of particles with different vibration modes was simulated by means of a 3D discrete element method (3D-DEM). The motion and penetration of the particles on the screen deck were analyzed for linear, circular and elliptical vibration of the screen. The results show that the travel velocity of the particles is the fastest, but the screening efficiency is the lowest, for the linear vibration mode. The circular motion resulted in the highest screening efficiency, but the lowest particle travel velocity. In the steady state the screening efficiency for each mode is seen to increase gradually along the longitudinal direction of the deck. The screening efficiency increment of the circular mode is the largest while the linear mode shows the smallest increment. The volume fraction of near-mesh size particles at the underside is larger than that of small size particles all along the screen deck. Linear screening mode has more near-mesh and small size particles on the first three deck sections, and fewer on the last two sections, compared to the circular or elliptical modes.

Accuracy and Precision of Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Analysis of Trace and Major Elements in Rock Standard Reference Materials Using Fine Powder

In this work the performance of a screening analytical method for Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis in terms of accuracy and precision was evaluated through analysis of rock standard reference materials. The method allowed the division of elements into four groups taking into account the excitation energies and measurement conditions of the sample. Two standard reference materials were used and 15 sample replicates were prepared and analyzed, then statistics were applied to assess the precision and accuracy of analytical results. The obtained results show that major compounds or elements (SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, Fe2O3, Ti) can be determined in fine powder sample with a deviation lower than 15%, and a relative standard deviation in the range (1 - 10)%. The deviation was found to be lower than 5% for major compounds such as K2O, and CaO, which suggest that the EDXRF is accurate in evaluating major elemental concentrations in rock samples. It was also found that the method seems to be more accurate and precise for major elements than for trace element investigation. This screening analytical method can be used for routine analysis with acceptable results, even though the method should be optimized to increase its precision and accuracy.

Identifying barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer and perception of women in Malwa region of Punjab,India

Objective:The aim of present study is to identify the breast cancer screening barriers among the women with breast cancer of Malwa region of Punjab,India.The study was conducted at three government hospitals representing almost all districts of Malwa region.Methods:The quantitative research design was followed using empirical research methods.Study was carried out by one-to-one interview by the field investigator and research assistant.Total of 363 breast cancer patient has been interviewed through the scheduled questionnaire and results has been recorded for further analysis.In this study,five barriers are described namely as personal barriers,socio-cultural barriers,economic barriers,health­system barriers,and treatment barriers which contains various questions regarding barriers to breast cancer screening.Univariate analysis methods have been used for the analysis to access the socio-demographic profile of women.Data has been obtained with the help of 5-point liker scale.Binary logistic model was chosen.Results:Majority of participants were in the age groups 50-<60 years(3&6%,140/363)and>60 years(31.1%,112/363).Majority of these women(47.4%,171/363)were illiterate and most of them were housewives.The major barriers to breast cancer screening faced by most of the women were having no knowledge about screening services(90.9%,329/363),the importance of early diagnosis(90.9%,329/363),different screening methods(95.5%,347/363)and place of availing screening services(91.2%,330/363)misguided belief in God and fate(81.5%,295/363)and preferring duties than taking care of health(70.2%,254/363).Education qualification(odds ratio[OR]0.74,β'=-0.309,t=-5.357,P=0.000)and socioeconomic class(OR 1.43,β’=0.354,t=3.399,P=0.001)were found to be significant determinant of the barriers among women.Conclusion:The survey was conducted in the women between the age 40-60 years and as an outcome,the unawareness about screening services,fatalistic attitude,fear of being diagnosed with the cancer,low per capita income was found out significant factors that restricted the women for early check-up for the breast cancer.

An Improved Open-Top Chamber with Solar-Heated Double Funnels That Can Adapt to All Wind Directions for Simulating Future Global Warming Conditions in Rice Paddy Fields

An Open-Top Chamber with Solar-heated Double Funnels (OTC-SDF2) that uses solar energy as a heating source was developed in this study. Two air entry/exit funnels were connected to the OTC via flat tunnels through which air was warmed by solar radiation. The new apparatus increased the air temperature by approximately 1°C throughout the chamber when more than half the energy of full sunlight was supplied. Although air flow occurs in only two directions, a nearly constant temperature increase was observed for each wind direction. This increase in temperature was stable for 1 mˉs to 4 mˉs wind speeds in every direction. This degree of warming may be adequate for screening high-temperature tolerant plants from medium to weak cultivars. The OTC-SDF2 has the potential to provide moderately high-temperature treatments for screening various cultivars/strains and may be used to evaluate easy, low-cost cropping methods associated with high-temperature stresses.

A High-Throughput Method for Screening Arabidopsis Mutants with Disordered Abiotic Stress-Induced Calcium Signal

It is established that different stresses cause signal-specific changes in cellular Ca2 ~ level, which function as messengers in modulating diverse physiological processes. These calcium signals are important for stress adaptation. Though numbers of downstream components of calcium signal cascades have been identified, upstream events in calcium signal remain elusive, specifically components required l＇~~r calcium signal generation due to the lack of high-throughput genetic assay. Here, we report the development of an easy and efficient method in a forward genetic screen for Ca2＋ signals-deficient mutants in Arahidopsis thaliana. Using this method, 121 mutants with disordered NaCI- and H=O2-induced Ca2＋ signals are isolated.

DEM simulation of particle flow on a single deck banana screen

A mathematical study of particle flow on a banana screen deck using the discrete element method (DEM) was presented in this paper. The motion characteristics and penetrating mechanisms of particles on the screen deck were studied. Effects of geometric parameters of screen deck on banana screening process were also investigated. The results show that when the values of inclination of discharge and increment of screen deck inclination are 10° and 5° respectively, the banana screening process get a good screening performance in the simulation. The relationship between screen deck length and screening efficiency was further confirmed. The conclusion that the screening efficiency will not significantly increase when the deck length L≥430 mm (L/B ≥ 3.5) was obtained, which can provide theoretical basis for the optimization of banana screen.

Self-focusing of partially coherent beams based on complex screen and split-step Fourier transform methods

The self-focusing phenomenon of partially coherent beams(PCBs)was simulated using the complex screen method combined with the split-step Fourier method to solve the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.Considering the propagation of Gaussian Schell-model beams in a nonlinear medium as an example,the suppression effects of intensity,propagation distance,and spatial coherence on small-scale self-focusing were demonstrated.Simulations of overall and small-scale self-focusing using this method were compared with the existing literature to demonstrate the validity of the method.This method can numerically analyze the degree of self-focusing in PCBs and advance the study of their nonlinearity.

SYNTHESIS OF CoFe_(2)O_(4)/Pb(Zr_(0.53)Ti_(0.47))O_(3)MULTIFERROIC COMPOSITE THICK FILMS BY LOW-SINTERING-TEMPERATURE SCREEN PRINTING METHOD

CoFe_(2)O_(4)/Pb(Zr_(0.53)Ti_(0.47))TO_(3)(abbreviated as CFO/PZT)multiferroic composite thick films were successfully fabricated on alumina substrate with gold bottom electrode by screen printing method at a low-sintering temperature.The processing included the modi fication and dispersion of ferromagnetic CFO powder and ferroelectric PZT powder,the preparation of uniform pastes,and the selection of proper annealing temperature for composite thick films.Transmission electron microscopic pictures(TEM)indicated the submicron meter of particles size for both CFO and PZT particles.After annealing at 900℃ for 1 h in air,tape test con firmed the quality of multiferroic thick films as well as pure CFO and PZT films.X-ray diffraction(XRD)showed a coexistence of CFO and PZT phases;furthermore,a smooth surface was observed through scanning electron microscopic(SEM)pictures along with the sharp cross-sectional picture,indicative of 100
m of film thickness.Ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties were observed in CFO/PZT films simultaneously at room temperature.Compared with the reported CFO/PZT multiferrroic thin films,the present ferromagnetic property was closing to that of the chemical solgel synthesized film and even that from the physical pulsed laser deposition technique.However,the ferroelectric property showed a degenerated behavior,possible reasons for this was discussed and further optimization was also proposed for the potential multifunctional application.

Operational indicators for measuring organizational e-readiness based on fuzzy logic: A challenge in the Agricultural Organization of Guilan Province, Iran

Information and communications technology has exponentially grown in recent years and has played a significant role in organizational development.The main purpose of this study was to collect the data needed for the introduction of a new tool for assessing e-readiness in the Agricultural Organization of Guilan Province,Iran.The study population includes agricultural organization experts and researchers who were familiar with the concepts of IT and the organization status.Based on the relevant literature review,the e-readiness indicators which had theoretically been proposed and practically used by researchers over the past 10 years were identified.Then some parameters were introduced for examination and prioritization.These indicators represented the spatial and temporal factors as well as the characteristics of the condition of the Agricultural Organization of Guilan Province.The proposed structural model included seven factors(Infrastructural,Human,Educational,Government,Management,Socio-cultural and Legal)and 44 indicators.After that,based on the experts’points of view,the coefficient of significance for each of the selected factors and indicators was measured using Minkowski fuzzy screening method.The results obtained from structured questionnaires show that all of the seven main factors and 40 indicators out of 44 indicators were appropriate for assessing electronic readiness and the final model of assessing e-readiness.Furthermore,the results indicated that the most important factor in assessing e-readiness is the human factor and then stand other factors such as educational,infrastructural,management,government,legal and socio-cultural.